Seeking Morality in Civilized Society

“Our Innate Morality Demands Execution” (Commentary, May 7) illustrates for us one of the largest problems facing American culture today. Daniel Troy asks us to imagine one of our children or family members burned or flayed. He asks us to imagine the devastation this would wreak on loved ones, siblings and the community. “Now,” he asks, “think about the person who intentionally murdered that boy or girl. If you are not so angry that you want to kill that murderer, you are not being honest with yourself.”

I think one difference between the civilized and uncivilized is that the civilized don’t kill just because they want to, just because they want revenge. Someone should inform people like Timothy McVeigh and Troy that killing just because you want to is wrong, regardless of who’s doing the murdering and who’s being murdered. After all, didn’t McVeigh murder all of those people in the name of vengeance? Isn’t that why we are going to murder him?

Lance Pettit

Los Alamitos

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Troy writes of the death penalty: “ . . . the Bible, which continues to influence our morality, prescribes it.” Can one imagine Jesus Christ pushing the button, even on McVeigh? I think not. What Bible is he reading?

Alberto Saavedra

Marina del Rey